Heads Will Roll

 


Echo & The Bunnymen - Porcupine [P-11288 JPN 1983 24-Bit FLAC]

A re-appreciation of Porcupine, the difficult third album by Liverpool's Echo & The Bunnymen - (incorrectly) critically panned (at the time) and initially rejected by the label, WEA who flexed their corporate muscles and sent the band back to the studio as they felt that the album wasn't commercial enough. 

This album reflects on internal conflicts within the Scouse four-some and benefits greatly from Ian 'Kingbird' Broudie's production and then manager, Bill Drummond's decision to bring in Lakshmi Shankar's Indian strings to add that little something extra. The Cutter made everybody sit and and pay attention, Back Of Love is a revered Bunnymen classic, My White Devil and Heads Will Roll should be revered just as much. It is clear that the band were moving in different directions at the time of recording with McCulloch seeking popstar adoration, guitarist Will Sergeant was focused on his solo work, late drummer Pete de Freitas becoming a gun & drum for hire and bassist  Les Pattinson's general dissatisfaction with the major label music industry.

Warners ruined this album when they reproduced & remastered the album into a new mix by Andy Zax in 2003. Please discard and avoid that at all costs, and learn to re-appreciate the original Porcupine.

A1 The Cutter
A2 Back Of Love
A3 My White Devil
A4 Clay
A5 Porcupine
B1 Heads Will Roll
B2 Ripeness
B3 Higher Hell
B4 Gods Will Be Gods
B5 In Bluer Skies






Comments

  1. Blogmeister26 April 2021 at 11:17

    https://mega.nz/file/qQQQXLiT#FzrZhNwN-T79zOwERy85F5w8DYdyFWyUjNC3y_FMfAM

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous26 April 2021 at 12:34

    Thank you - I have the 2003 remaster but hadn't realised that it had been remixed. The Cutter and this LP were my introduction to the Bunnymen aged 16 and this still it's my favourite of theirs all these years later (closely followed by HuH). I love the way that In Blue Skies closes things out.

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  3. Anonymous26 April 2021 at 16:16

    Thank you for this post, I too wasn`t aware that any remix had be done on the CD reissue, have long since parted with my vinyl version.
    Looking forward to give this rip a listen, a very underrated Bunnymen album, I rate Porcupine second only to Heaven Up Here in my personal ranking.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous27 April 2021 at 05:07

      funny, this album was my entry point to EATB - i always regarded it as amazing and likewise placed it along with HUH as the band's best work. I gave this album much close listening back then (via cassette) and this is quite the treat. a first listen to heads will roll reveals great the great depth and detail of this pressing and your expert rip. thank you much. i anticipate much close listening of this great album once again!
      mikeL

      Delete
  4. gnihtytterp26 April 2021 at 22:15

    Many thanks, love all their stuff up to 1987, really appreciated !!

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  5. Echorich27 April 2021 at 05:54

    Porcupine is uncompromising sounding, even if the internal strife and heavy hand of the record label caused there to be much compromise. McCulloch is at his most brutally poetic and dissatisfied. There's an intensity on some tracks that are the band at a breaking point, seeming to not care if they go over the edge. The album's art direction, once you hear Porcupine, is really spot on.

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  6. Anonymous30 April 2021 at 12:26

    I have the original LP as well as two dead turntables so when I came across a copy of the 2003 remaster I grabbed it. It just wasn't the album I remembered. Now I know it that may not be from advancing age!!

    Brian

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  7. Leper Lord9 May 2021 at 06:37

    WOW

    A beautiful share mate

    Cheers

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  8. A-Mfan9 May 2021 at 22:57

    Thank you. The Cutter is a classic.

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  9. robin29 May 2021 at 22:25

    The third great album out of three for the Bunnymen. The only thing more profound would have been the album they originally submitted for release, which was rejected. Thanks to the boxed set, Peel Sessions, etc., we can get a sense of what this might have sounded like. Only two tracks from "Porcupine" have no alternative version

    The Happy Loss - Echo and The Bunnymen

    1. A Drop in the Ocean [AKA "The Cutter"]
    2. Taking Advantage [AKA "The Back of Love"]
    3. No Hands
    4. My White Devil
    5. Porcupine
    6. Heads Will Roll [summer version]
    7. Ripeness
    8. An Equation [AKA "Higher Hell"]
    9. Gods Will Be Gods
    10. Way Out and Up We Go

    SOURCES
    1, 6, 9, 10: "Crystal Days" boxed set
    2, 3, 8: Peel Sessions
    4, 5, 7: alternative versions from "Porcupine" CD reissue 2003

    ReplyDelete

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